Cape Coast, Feb.8, GNA-A total of 169 children between the ages of 10-14 years reported pregnant to the various health facilities in the Central Region last year Dr. Samuel Tetteh Kwashie, Regional Director of Health Services revealed on Tuesday and said: 93children who should be in school are rathe= r seriously preparing to become mothers!"

He was opening a four-day annual performance review meeting of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on the theme: 93strengthening resources for hea= lth towards achieving the millennium development goals", in Cape Coast.

It is being attended by Metropolitan, Municipal and District directors of health, medical and senior nursing officers and other health staff in th= e Region to review their performance for last year and evolve strategies to improve upon service delivery. He said though the overall teenage pregnancy (10-19) rate of 14.1%, last year, was a little lower compared to 2009 which recorded 14.9%, the rate of 0.2% amongst the ages 10-14 years had remained stable for the past four years and added that it was a matter of great concern to him as a chil= d activist.

Dr. Kwashie announced that the region also recorded an increase in maternal mortality during the year under review with 77 deaths compared to 2009 with 72 deaths, representing an institutional mortality ratio of 165 per every 100,000 live births and 130 per every 100, 000 live births respectively.

He also painted a gloomy picture of neonatal deaths which declined from 3.4 per 1,000 live births in 2008 to 2.4 in 2009 only to rise up to 3.= 1 last year saying it accounts significantly for deaths among children under-five years.

He said malaria deaths among children under five years dropped significantly last year from 261 to 167, the lowest ever reported in the region, it was unacceptable that they continue to die from preventable causes like pneumonia, diarrheoa and malnutrition.

Dr. Kwashie reminded the health personnel that the tasks ahead of the= m was challenging, and therefore they should remain resolute, focused and determined to achieve their set objectives of saving lives and improving upon the health status of the region.